Flaky water meter?

Got my water bill today. It was about 4x what we normally use in a month. This happened once before back in the summer and we just paid it. After that time I did go and check that the meter was reading more than the amount shown on the bill. No running toilets or anything obvious I can find to explain where thousands of gallons of water go. I've asked to city to come out and check/replace my meter as I think it is messing up now that this has happened twice. Any thoughts? Is this something that could happen? Other than a water leak or a running toilet what else could cause this if the meter is telling the truth?

Leak in the line. Happened to me. Actually, the regulator at the street broke and put like 200+ PSI on my pipes. Blew out the couplings between the street and the house, 6 ft under ground. I found the problem because my hot water heater pressure release valves were all spewing water.

I've never heard of a meter that just reads high all by itself.

Me neither, especially only one month out of every six or so. Makes me think the water must be going somewhere. I have an irrigation system, but don't use it, that is the only thing I can think of, but I think I'd notice 8,000 gallons of water in my tiny yard.

The other thing could be that they are "guestimating" your meter reading 10 months of the year and 2 months are actually sending someone out. When they get a real reading, then they have to play "catch up" on your bill.

In reply to T.J.:

You'd be surprised. Our yard isn't that big either and even with no lawn, it easily manages to soak up 15k-20k gal a month during summer.

We had one of those enormous water bills a couple months back and it was absolutely traced to a running toilet. It made no extra noise that I could hear and it wasn't very obvious, but food coloring in the tank told the story. I adjusted the thingamajig and fiddled with the whatsahoozit until I didn't get any dye in the bowl and our last water bill was much more in line.

I put some dye in the toilets that my meter reader lady gave me. Dunno where the leak is, but you can see the meter moving slowly when there should be no flow. Now I just have to find it.

the water company used to estimate my readings on the premise no one was home to let them into the basement where the meter is located. After I continually disputed their estimations and explained that at the times they were not allowed access I was home, and even video'd the meter reader walking down the block skipping my house, they told me I could purchase for 275$ an outside reader port, purchase.... no way, after several more estimates and another video and complaint , they decided to install it for free.

Now when I get an occasional estimate and when I ask them it's the same E36M3, the meter isn't accessable...idiots, they installed it and put it where they wanted and still the jerks can't find it sometimes...

In reply to Supercoupe:

LOL. Mine is outside right by the road and I see the meter reading lady around, so I believe it is being read each month.

If the meter is turning with everything off, then there is definitely a leak in the line. Depending on your soil conditions, it could be very easy for a steady stream of water to disappear at the level that line is buried.

I have a giant coastal redwood in my backyard and it ate the heavy duty poly water line. I had to run a new ditch around that tree's root system.

Water meters can and do go bad. They have a predicted lifespan of approximately 10-years, IIRC. Although typically you'll have the opposite problem, in they'll show less gallons than actual used.

+1 for a leak somewhere.

T.J., get one these at any hardware store for less than $10:

They're not as cheap as dye but if the meter stops moving when you turn the water off, your leak is confirmed. Besides, you need one anyway when you go to fix the leak.

Where is the meter located?

Other ideas, Water softener system? Reverse osmosis water filtration system? Both use some water to work, and I imagine one failing could make a couple thousand gallons disappear in a month. Does that irritation system have a shut off valve in the house?